Selah

Todd Smith, Nicole Smith, and Alan Hall (www.ccauthority.com)

I trust Lord Jesus. When I am alone and feeling down, I always go to my room, and pray to him and tell him everything that I’m worried about, grateful about, and so on. Besides praying, something that can make my heart calm is listening to music. Especially, worship songs. Worship songs help me to express my feeling to the Lord. By listen to them, I really feel that the Lord is around me and understands my problem. And somehow He will alleviate my burdens. Like John F. Kennedy's words to his people, America, and to the Lord Jesus from us,

"Don't always wait for what the Lord gives to you, but remember to always give what is wanted from you that is best for the Lord."



And Selah is one of them.

(http://www.familychristian.com)

Selah is a group of gospel musicians. This group consisted of three vocalists which are the Smith siblings (Todd and Nicole) and Alan Hall who also becomes the pianist of Selah. Selah was founded when they were at Nashville's Belmont University. Selah means “raise your voice to praise the Lord”. At first, Nicole Smith, Todd Smith, and Alan Hall just wanted to make a small concert and record their songs. But their voices were heard by Mike Curb, a president of Curb Records. Finally Selah released the first album in 1999, “Be Still My Soul.” Since then, Selah made their journey in the gospel music until now and released 6 albums. (the last one is “Bless The Broken Road” ).

More than one million Christians have heard their songs. Every time they sing their songs, they always sing the song with their heart and their songs have deep meaning lyrics. Selah also mix their songs with African music. It’s because Nicole and Todd had lived in Africa long time ago before they went to Tennessee in 1992. They really love to use African music because they were inspired by African people who had suffered so much sorrow and pain but still they can stand their sorrow.

Selah got some awards from GMA-Dove Awards. Here is the list.

GMA Music Awards:
· 2005 Inspirational Album of the Year (Hiding Place)
· 2002 Inspirational Album of the Year (Press On)
· 2002 Traditional Recorded Gospel Song (Hold On)
· 2000 Inspirational Album of the Year (Be Still My Soul)

And also some nominations:

GMA Music Award Nominations:
· 2006 Inspirational Album of the Year (Greatest Hymns)
· 2006 Inspirational Recorded Song of the Year (“All My Praise”)
· 2006 Worship Song of the Year (“Be Thou My Vision”)
· 2006 Special Event Album of the Year (WoW Christmas {Green})
· 2005 Artist of the Year
· 2002, 2003, 2005 Group of the Year
· 2002, 2005 Inspirational Recorded Song (Wonderful, Merciful Savior, You Raise Me Up)

Selah in 36th Annual GMA Awards (Christian Music at about.com. )

In 2004 Nicole Smith got out from the group and started her solo career. Alan Hall and Todd Smith also started their first solo album. Not only that, in this year Selah released “Hiding Place”, which was Selah’s last album with Nicole Smith. Then Selah replaced her with Amy Perry. As a newcomer, Amy Perry brought new atmosphere into Selah’s music. In 2005, Selah made a tour concert to introduce Amy Perry and their new album “Bless The Broken Road.” The song “Bless The Broken Road” got Top 5 Christian AC hit. Selah also collaborated with so many gospel singers, such as Nicole Norderman. Until now Selah still exists, releases new albums and praises the Lord through their music. Besides singing, Selah also does their ministration in a concert way. For example, they really concerned for their ministration in Africa. Selah gave $ 500,000 for charity, for one hospital in Congo. At 11th September 2006, Selah did something that really touched my heart. They participated in the 5th year anniversary of the downing of the World Trade Center and the Pentagon.

Amy Perry the newcomer vocalist in Selah. (http://www.wcsg.org)

Why I chose Selah to be my hero? As a Christian I was deeply moved by Selah's commitment to use their talents to praise the Lord. Every song that they sang really moved my heart and made my faith stronger. They have sung a lot of worship songs and I really like it. They really give their best to praise the Lord. And through their songs, I can feel their loyalty to God and how they really worship Him as our Savior and Shepherd.